Partners of Alan Turing big data research institute announced

Universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh, Oxford, Warwick and University College London will lead the newly established Alan Turing Institute for Big Data research, it was announced today.

Named in honour of the Enigma codebreaker, whose life was the subject of the recent 'Imitation Game' biopic, the Alan Turing Institute’s goal will be to push boundaries in data science and algorithm research.

“Alan Turing’s genius played a pivotal role in cracking the codes that helped us win the Second World War. It is therefore only right that our country’s top universities are chosen to lead this new institute named in his honour,” said the UK Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Vince Cable announcing the project partners.

“The Alan Turing Institute will attract the best data scientists and mathematicians from the UK and across the globe to break new boundaries in how we use big data in a fast moving, competitive world.”

With headquarters at the British Library in central London’s Knowledge Quarter, the institute’s work will be coordinated by the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

The UK government provided £42m for the institute last year with further funding expected to come from the partnering universities and potential business partners and governmental institutions.

“The Alan Turing Institute will draw on the best of the best academic talent in the country,” said Professor Philip Nelson, EPSRC’s chief executive. “It will use the power of mathematics, statistics, and computer science to analyse Big Data in many ways, including the ability to improve online security,” he said, pointing to the increasing importance of Big Data for today’s industries and businesses.